Rapid Fire Morning 2011-06-08: US SOCOM Spending
- Bloomberg analysts report that US SOCOM spending has quadrupled from 2001-2010, led by L-3, Harris, Raytheon and Boeing. On the other hand, small businesses have seen seen a sixfold increase in SOCOM contracts during that time.
- A new report by AlixPartners predicts that the aerospace and defense sector will face tough and contradictory burdens in the next few years, as the need to meet an anticipated 25% jump in commercial-aircraft deliveries by 2014 contrasts with further belt-tightening of nations’ defense budgets.
- In advance of Leon Panetta’s Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, analysts speculate how the next Defense Secretary will adjust U.S. defense strategy to ensure the impending budget cuts make sense.
- Otokar’s privately-developed Arma 6×6 wheeled APC picks up its 2nd export contract, for $63.2M, but the Turkish firm won’t say to whom. The wheeled APC market is crowded. Their Turkish competitor FNSS’ Pars serves in Turkey, and recently picked up a larger win in Malaysia.
- Northrop Grumman awarded a $19 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to enhance and maintain the Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS) Framework. The delivery order was awarded under the Mission Planning Enterprise Contract (MPEC) II from the Electronic Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass.
- Harris and Cubic Corporation conduct technology demonstrations aimed at enhancing situational awareness by distributing Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) video and targeting data across wideband ground tactical communications networks. The demonstrations integrated Cubic’s Common Data Link (CDL) transceiver technology for receiving video’s from UAS platforms with the Harris Falcon III AN/PRC-117G open-standard widebrand tactical radio.
- Airbus Military completes the first flight of a C295 aircraft fitted with an Airbone Early Warning and Command (AEW&C) rotodome.
- UAS Vision reports that Rheinmetall has responded to the German Army’s request for a follow-on solution for the Heron 1 reconnaissance system by offering the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) Heron TP. Rheinmetall and IAI already cooperate with the German Army under its Systems for Imagery Reconnaissance Deep in the Area of Operations (SAATEG) program.
- PRV Aerospace acquires Quality Forming, LLC , a manufacturer of large and complex, high-value precision sheet metal components and assemblies for the aerospace industry.
- Israeli UAS manufacturer Innocon signs a contract to supply 50 MicroFalcon systems to an unnamed Asian country.
Categories: Air Reconnaissance, Aircraft, Asia - Other, Boeing, Contracts - Awards, Daily Rapid Fire, Electronics & IT, European Union (EU), IAI, L3 Communications, Mergers & Acquisitions, Northrop-Grumman, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, Raytheon, Signals Radio & Wireless, Think Tanks, Trucks & Transport, UAVs, USA
